Sierra College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Rocklin, California. It enrolls 14,122 students (a large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
71/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes54
Value78
Affordability42
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Sierra College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Sierra College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $7,245 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$7,245
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
22%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
2%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$1,446
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,631
Room & Board (off-campus)
$25,933
Books & Supplies
$1,792
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$6,842
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$8,578
Total Cost of Attendance
$17,002
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$5,042
$30,001 – $48,000
$7,302
$48,001 – $75,000
$9,663
$75,001 – $110,000
$12,648
Over $110,000
$13,386
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$2,60010%percentile
$4,30025%percentile
$10,500Medianpercentile
$15,75075%percentile
$27,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $9,500
↓ $1,000
No Pell $5,500
↓ $5,000
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $5,000
Independent students $10,500
—
Female students $9,500
↓ $1,000
Male students $8,250
↓ $2,250
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,500, close to what completers borrow ($10,500) but without the degree to show for it.
Graduation Rate & Retention
1% of full-time students who enrolled at Sierra College graduate within six years, and 71% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
1%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
71%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Sierra College earn a median of $45,294 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,294
Earning > $25K
66%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$34,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$43,300
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$34,500
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$44,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$48,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $9,200, about 21% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
What this means:
Strong return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$6.3 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
Sierra College is home to 14,122 students, a large student community. Some distinctive traits: 45% are first-generation college students, 54% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
14,122
Part-Time
54%
First-Generation
45%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 53.4%7,543
Hispanic 23.7%3,343
Other 9.0%1,270
Asian 8.9%1,255
Black 3.4%483
International 0.4%56
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Sierra College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbRocklin, California
Housing
Limited on-campus housing120 beds
Adult Learners
24%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Sierra College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
69 distinct programs across
28 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Sierra College is 25:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
25:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$4,263
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$11M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$81,483
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
245 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Instructors
245
100%
$81,483
Pros & Cons of Sierra College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Sierra College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Open admissions
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Sierra College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sierra College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Sierra College.
Is Sierra College hard to get into?
Sierra College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Sierra College?
Sierra College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Sierra College cost?
The average net price after aid at Sierra College is $7,245 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Sierra College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,294 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $7,245 per year. That's roughly 6.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Sierra College known for?
Sierra College is best known for its programs in Social Sciences, Health Sciences, Biological and Physical Sciences. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Sierra College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Sierra College are $45,294, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Sierra College accredited?
Yes. Sierra College is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.
How many students attend Sierra College?
Sierra College enrolls 14,122 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Sierra College?
Sierra College graduates 1% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Sierra College a public or private college?
Sierra College is a Public institution.
Where is Sierra College located?
Sierra College is located in Rocklin, California.
What programs does Sierra College offer?
Sierra College offers 69 distinct programs. The most popular include Social Sciences, Health Sciences, Biological and Physical Sciences.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Sierra College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Sierra College is 25:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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